Chasing Winter’s Rush

The calendar marks Thursday, March 20, as the official start of spring, and with Mother Nature’s unpredictability, March often feels like both winter and spring—sometimes shifting between the two seasons in a single day. This makes it one of the best months to enjoy winter, with longer days and usually milder weather. Take advantage of these remaining winter days, as spring is fast approaching.

Moving into our March issue, we’ve got a great selection of stories, with this month’s theme being our Home issue. Kalli Hawkins starts us off with an Along the Shore story on One Roof Housing, a nonprofit organization committed to providing housing services, and building and sustaining affordable homes in healthy neighborhoods. One significant project currently underway is the rehabilitation of the 24-unit Birchwood Apartments in Grand Marais. In Duluth, Chris Pascone interviews JM Inc, your home masonry and carpentry professionals, who also have a knack for building sea walls to protect lakeside homes from Lake Superior’s mighty gales. Do you have a woodstove or a fireplace? Then you should probably call your local chimney sweep for a yearly inspection, but call in May, not October, says Pascone. Last but not least, Don Wendel writes about life at the cabin in the wintertime and his solution for getting water from the lake without getting wet.

Of course, each issue has more than just our theme stories. The Spotlight features a collection of winter-themed art pieces, and in Creative Space, Rae Poynter introduces us to Cloquet artist Kris Nelson. Affectionately known as “the chair lady,” Nelson has an ambitious goal: to paint 1,000 chairs before she turns 100. As of this writing, she was on chair #678. In Along the Shore, Michelle Miller brings us to Alt Creative in Duluth, a co-op style art store with over 50 members.

Last month I asked my writers to provide me with a few snowy day stories—and boy, did they deliver. I received so many stories, that we couldn’t fit it all into the February issue, so cue Snow Day Memories: Part Two this month. May they evoke memories of your own snowy days as a kid.

Looking for something to do this month? The Ely Film Festival will take place March 12-16 at Ely’s Historic State Theater. And don’t miss out on the various St. Patrick’s Day and St. Urho’s Day celebrations occurring throughout the North Shore. Check out Dana Johnson’s Along the Shore story on the history of both events.

With so many stories to explore, we hope this issue inspires you to enjoy the season, whether you’re cozied up inside or enjoying some fresh air. Take your time with each page, and make the most of these fleeting winter days before spring arrives. —Breana Johnson